Company to Host Conference Call at 8:30 AM ET on Thursday, March 1, 2018

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Feb. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conifer Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNFR) (“Conifer” or the “Company”) today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights (all comparisons to prior year period)

• Commercial lines net earned premiums increased by 10.1% in the fourth quarter
• Partially offsetting the Commercial lines growth was a 19.7% decline in Personal lines net earned premiums for the same period
• Overall, net earned premiums increased 4.0% to $25.4 million
• Loss ratio improved to 58.3% from 73.4%; Expense ratio improved to 41.4% from 45.3%
• Combined ratio was 99.7% for the period, compared to 118.7% in the prior year period
• Net income of $221,000, or $0.03 per diluted share based on 8.5 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding

Annual 2017 Highlights

• Strengthened reserve position through an adverse development cover (“ADC”) agreement with Swiss Re which provides up to $17.5 million of loss development cover in excess of stated reserves as of June 30, 2017
• Completed $30.0 million Private Placement of Subordinated Notes
• Repaid outstanding senior credit facility in full
• Issued $5.0 million of additional common equity through a private placement.
• After a change in business mix in 2017, gross written premiums remained flat at $114.3 million
• Net earned premiums increased 2.3% to $91.7 million versus fourth quarter of 2016
• Book value per share of $6.20 at December 31, 2017

Management Comments
James Petcoff, Chairman and CEO, commented, “During the fourth quarter Conifer benefitted from the initiatives we put in place in the second half of last year, leading to considerable improvements in our combined ratio and a return to profitability.  We achieved a 16 percentage point improvement in the combined ratio to 94% in commercial lines, which was driven by improved underwriting performance from our hospitality, security guards, and quick service restaurants lines of business.  We attribute this improvement to a renewed focus on our best performing lines of business which more than offset the marginal performance of select personal lines business.” 

Outlook for 2018
Mr. Petcoff concluded, “Over the past year we implemented a number of initiatives aimed at correctly positioning Conifer for sustained profitability and long-term book value appreciation.  We will continue to focus on shifting our business mix towards those lines in which we have historically outperformed our peers within the P&C industry.  There is considerable runway for growth in our specialty markets, where Conifer has a particular advantage in knowing how to effectively price and distribute our products.  In 2018, we expect a modest increase in gross written premiums, with higher core commercial business being offset by lower premiums in select personal lines.  We expect this to result in improved underwriting income in the coming periods and profitability over the long-term.”

2017 Fourth Quarter Financial Results Overview

		As of and for the Three Months Ended December 31,											As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				% Change			2017				2016				% Change
		(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Gross written premiums		$	31,247			$	31,308			-0.2	%		$	114,284			$	114,923			-0.6	%
Net written premiums			27,439				27,069			1.4	%			91,240				99,929			-8.7	%
Net earned premiums			25,433				24,463			4.0	%			91,729				89,627			2.3	%
Net investment income			720				548			31.4	%			2,728				2,173			25.5	%
Net realized investment gains			39				761			**				70				1,365			**
Other gains			-				(400	)		**				750				(400	)		**
Net income (loss)			221				(4,421	)		**				(21,542	)			(8,437	)		**
	Net income (loss) per share, diluted	$	0.03			$	(0.58	)					$	(2.74	)		$	(1.11	)
Adjusted operating income (loss)*			161				(4,279	)		**				(22,781	)			(9,549	)		**
	Adjusted operating income (loss) per share, diluted*	$	0.02			$	(0.56	)					$	(2.90	)		$	(1.26	)
Book value per common share outstanding		$	6.20			$	8.88						$	6.20			$	8.88
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted			8,519,648				7,632,390							7,867,344				7,618,588
Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio (1)		58.3	%			73.4	%						79.2	%			65.0	%
	Expense ratio (2)		41.4	%			45.3	%						46.8	%			47.2	%
	Combined ratio (3)		99.7	%			118.7	%						126.0	%			112.2	%
* The "Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles data that are not based on generally accepted accounting principles.
** Percentage is not meaningful
(1) The loss ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of net losses and loss adjustment expenses to net earned premiums and other income.
(2) The expense ratio is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of policy acquisition costs and operating expenses to net earned premiums and other income.
(3) The combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.  A combined ratio under 100% indicates an underwriting profit.  A combined ratio over 100% indicates an underwriting loss.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Premiums

Gross Written Premiums
Gross written premiums decreased 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2017 to $31.2 million, compared to $31.3 million in the prior year period.  The slight decrease was largely due to a 6.8% decline in gross written premiums from the Company’s personal lines of business, offset by single-digit growth in commercial lines.    

Net Earned Premiums
Net earned premiums increased 4.0% to $25.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $24.5 million for the prior year period.  The increase is mainly attributed to an increase in gross earned premiums and lower ceded premiums during the period.

Commercial Lines Financial and Operational Review

 

Commercial Lines Financial Review
		Three Months Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				% Change			2017				2016				% Change
		(dollars in thousands)
Gross written premiums		$	25,854			$	25,517			1.3	%		$	92,112			$	88,242			4.4	%
Net written premiums			23,600				22,671			4.1	%			78,217				78,439			-0.3	%
Net earned premiums			21,344				19,394			10.1	%			76,786				68,921			11.4	%
Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio		55.3	%			76.4	%						72.0	%			61.2	%
	Expense ratio		39.1	%			34.2	%						41.1	%			36.5	%
	Combined ratio		94.4	%			110.6	%						113.1	%			97.7	%
Contribution to combined ratio from net
	(favorable) adverse prior year development		-0.1	%			19.9	%						9.3	%			9.8	%
Accident year combined ratio (1)			94.5	%			90.7	%						103.8	%			87.9	%
Impact of hurricanes			-0.7	%			0.0	%						3.0	%			0.0	%
Accident year combined ratio before impact of hurricanes
			95.2	%			90.7	%						100.8	%			87.9	%
(1) The accident year combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio, less changes in net ultimate loss estimates from prior accident year loss reserves. The accident year combined ratio provides management with an assessment of the specific policy year's profitability and assists management in their evaluation of product pricing levels and quality of business written.

The Company’s commercial lines of business, representing 83% of total gross written premiums in the fourth quarter of 2017, primarily consist of mainly property and liability coverage offered to owner-operated small- to mid-sized businesses, such as hospitality risks including restaurants, bars, taverns and professional organizations.

Commercial lines gross written premiums increased by 1.3% to $25.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.  This was largely due to higher gross written premiums for the Company’s quick service restaurant and liquor liability businesses.

For the fourth quarter of 2017, the commercial lines combined ratio was 94.4%, compared to 110.6% in the prior year period, due to the reduction of adverse development from $3.9 million in 2016 to $19,000 of favorable development in 2017. 

Personal Lines Financial and Operational Review

Personal Lines Financial Review
		Three Months Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				% Change			2017				2016				% Change
		(dollars in thousands)
Gross written premiums		$	5,394			$	5,789			-6.8	%		$	22,172			$	26,681			-16.9	%
Net written premiums			3,838				4,397			-12.7	%			13,023				21,490			-39.4	%
Net earned premiums			4,090				5,096			-19.7	%			14,943				20,706			-27.8	%
Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio		74.0	%			62.7	%						115.9	%			77.9	%
	Expense ratio		47.0	%			50.4	%						53.0	%			45.3	%
	Combined ratio		121.0	%			113.1	%						168.9	%			123.2	%
Contribution to combined ratio from net
	(favorable) adverse prior year development		1.2	%			12.5	%						14.5	%			16.1	%
Accident year combined ratio			119.8	%			100.6	%						154.4	%			107.1	%
Impact of hurricanes			17.8	%			0.0	%						26.3	%			0.0	%
Accident year combined ratio before impact of hurricanes
			102.0	%			100.6	%						128.1	%			107.1	%

Personal lines, which consist of low-value dwelling and wind-exposed homeowners insurance, represented 17% of total gross written premiums for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Personal lines gross written premiums decreased 6.8% to $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year period.  This was mainly due to a 15.8% decline in gross written premiums in the Florida homeowners program due to the Company’s initiative to reduce exposure in this line. 

Conifer’s low-value dwelling products gross written premiums decreased by 14.3% during the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to the prior year period.

For the fourth quarter of 2017, the personal lines combined ratio was 121.0%, compared to 113.1% in the prior year period.  Additional losses from Hurricane Harvey and Irma of $654,000 emerged in the fourth quarter of 2017. Coupled with these losses, there was an additional $103,000 of reinstatement premiums relating to Hurricane Irma, which increased the combined ratio in the fourth quarter.  Before the impact of the hurricanes, the personal lines accident year combined ratio in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 102.0%.   

Combined Ratio Analysis

		Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
		2017			2016			2017			2016
		(dollars in thousands)
Underwriting ratios:
	Loss ratio	58.3	%		73.4	%		79.2	%		65.0	%
	Expense ratio	41.4	%		45.3	%		46.8	%		47.2	%
	Combined ratio	99.7	%		118.7	%		126.0	%		112.2	%
Contribution to combined ratio from net (favorable)
	adverse prior year development	0.1	%		18.3	%		10.1	%		11.3	%
Accident year combined ratio		99.6	%		100.4	%		115.9	%		100.9	%
Impact of hurricanes		2.2	%		0.0	%		6.8	%		0.0	%
Accident year combined ratio before impact of hurricanes
		97.4	%		100.4	%		109.1	%		100.9	%

Combined Ratio

The Company's combined ratio was 99.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to 118.7% for the same period in 2016.   

• Loss Ratio: The impact of prior accident year reserves on the Company's loss ratio has been significantly reduced due to the benefits of the ADC.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company has ceded $7.2 million under the ADC, leaving $10.3 million of cover in the event of future development.  The Company’s losses and loss adjustment expenses were $15.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $18.2 million in the prior year period.  As a result, Conifer reported a considerably improved loss ratio of 58.3%, compared to 73.4% in the prior year period.
   
• Expense Ratio: The expense ratio was 41.4% for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to 45.3% in the prior year period, largely as a result of continued cost-containment efforts and lower policy acquisition costs.

Net Investment Income
Net investment income increased 31.4% to $720,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, compared to $548,000 in the prior year period. 

Net Income (Loss)
In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company reported net income of $221,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, based on 8.5 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding, compared to net loss of $4.4 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, based on 7.6 million weighted average common diluted shares outstanding in the prior year period.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company reported adjusted operating income of $161,000, or $0.02 per share, compared to adjusted operating loss of $4.3 million, or $0.56 per share, for the same period in 2016.  See Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures.

Earnings Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call/webcast on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 and its outlook for 2018.  

Investors, analysts, employees and the general public are invited to listen to the conference call via:

Webcast:                        On the Event Calendar at IR.CNFRH.com
Conference Call:           844-868-8843 (domestic) or 412-317-6589 (international)

The webcast will be archived on the Conifer Holdings website and available for replay for at least one year.

About the Company
Conifer Holdings, Inc. is a Michigan-based insurance holding company.  Through its subsidiaries, Conifer offers customized insurance coverage solutions in both specialty commercial and specialty personal product lines marketing mainly through independent agents in all 50 states.  The Company  is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq: CNFR).  Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.CNFRH.com.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures
Conifer prepares its public financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).  Statutory data is prepared in accordance with statutory accounting rules as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, and therefore is not reconciled to GAAP data.

We believe that investors’ understanding of Conifer’s performance is enhanced by our disclosure of adjusted operating income.  Our method for calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.  We define adjusted operating income (loss), a non-GAAP measure, as net income (loss) excluding net realized investment gains and losses, and other gains and losses, after-tax, and excluding the tax impact of changes in unrealized gains and losses.  We use adjusted operating income as an internal performance measure in the management of our operations because we believe it gives our management and other users of our financial information useful insight into our results of operations and our underlying business performance.

Reconciliations of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income per share: 

	Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
	2017				2016				2017				2016
	(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Net income (loss)	$	221			$	(4,421	)		$	(21,542	)		$	(8,437	)
Less:
Net realized gains and other gains (losses), net of tax		39				508				820				1,112
Effect of tax law change		63								63
Tax effect of investment unrealized gains and losses		(42	)			(650	)			356				-
Adjusted operating income (loss)	$	161			$	(4,279	)		$	(22,781	)		$	(9,549	)
Weighted average common shares, diluted		8,519,648				7,632,390				7,867,344				7,618,588
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Net income (loss)	$	0.03			$	(0.58	)		$	(2.74	)		$	(1.11	)
Net realized gains and other gains (losses), net of tax		-				0.07				0.10				0.15
Effect of tax law change		0.01				-				0.01				-
Tax effect of investment unrealized gains and losses		-				(0.09	)			0.05				-
Adjusted operating income (loss) per share	$	0.02			$	(0.56	)		$	(2.90	)		$	(1.26	)

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance, and include Conifer’s expectations regarding premiums, earnings, its capital position, expansion, and growth strategies.  The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management’s good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information.  The forward-looking statements are qualified by important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including those described in our form 10-K (“Item 1A Risk Factors”) filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017 and subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC.  Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date hereof or as of the date specified herein.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws or regulations.

Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
				December 31,			December 31,
				2017			2016
Assets				(Unaudited)
Investment securities:
	Fixed maturity securities, at fair value (amortized cost of $137,004 and			$	136,536		$	113,163
		$113,915, respectively)
	Equity securities, at fair value (cost of $9,454 and $4,283, respectively)			10,512			4,579
	Short-term investments, at fair value			11,427			10,788
		Total investments		158,475			128,530
Cash				11,868			12,493
Premiums and agents' balances receivable, net				22,845			24,538
Receivable from affiliate				1,195			1,751
Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses				20,066			6,658
Reinsurance recoverables on paid losses				4,473			840
Ceded unearned premiums				1,081			4,120
Deferred policy acquisition costs				12,781			13,290
Other assets				6,248			11,481
			Total assets	$	239,032		$	203,701
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Liabilities:
	Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses			$	87,896		$	54,651
	Unearned premiums			57,672			58,126
	Reinsurance premiums payable			3,299			-
	Senior debt			29,027			17,750
	Accounts payable and other liabilities			8,312			5,380
			Total liabilities	186,206			135,907
Commitments and contingencies				-			-
Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock, no par value (100,000,000 shares authorized;
		8,520,328 and 7,633,070 issued and outstanding, respectively)		86,199			80,342
	Accumulated deficit			(33,010)			(11,468)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(363)			(1,080)
		Total shareholders' equity		52,826			67,794
			Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	239,032		$	203,701

Conifer Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
				Three Months Ended						Year Ended
				December 31,						December 31,
				2017			2016			2017			2016
Revenue
Premiums
	Gross earned premiums			$	29,243		$	28,656		$	114,737		$	104,713
	Ceded earned premiums			(3,810)			(4,193)			(23,008)			(15,086)
		Net earned premiums		25,433			24,463			91,729			89,627
Net investment income				720			548			2,728			2,173
Net realized investment gains (losses)				39			761			70			1,365
Other gains				-			(400)			750			(400)
Other income				357			287			1,560			1,118
		Total revenue		26,549			25,659			96,837			93,883
Expenses
Losses and loss adjustment expenses, net				15,042			18,181			73,917			59,003
Policy acquisition costs				6,690			6,997			26,245			25,280
Operating expenses				3,993			4,211			17,367			17,596
Interest expense				616			179			1,362			647
		Total expenses		26,341			29,568			118,891			102,526
Income (loss) before equity earnings and income taxes				208			(3,909)			(22,054)			(8,643)
Equity earnings of affiliates, net of tax				(23)			18			65			129
Income tax (benefit) expense				(36)			530			(447)			(77)
Net income (loss)				221			(4,421)			(21,542)			(8,437)
Earnings (loss) per common share,
basic and diluted				$	0.03		$	(0.58)		$	(2.74)		$	(1.11)
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
basic and diluted				8,519,648			7,632,390			7,867,344			7,618,588

For Further Information:
Jessica Gulis, 248.559.0840
ir@cnfrh.com 

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